Staff Engineer, SRAM Circuit Design

Engg; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 163,000 - 253,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4+ weeks paid time off

Fertility care/adoption stipend

Medical travel support

Therapy sessions

Onsite Café and gym

Flexible work environment

Job summary

Samsung Semiconductor in San Jose, CA seeks a Staff Engineer, SRAM Circuit Design to lead end‑to‑end SRAM development for cutting‑edge devices. You will drive high‑performance, low‑power memory circuits and guide a team across design, layout, verification, and test.

You will apply deep SRAM architecture expertise and work on nodes like 2nm/3nm/5nm, mentoring junior engineers and collaborating with cross‑functional teams to meet aggressive PPA targets.

Qualifications

• Degree in EE with 10+ years of industry experience or MS with 8+ years preferred.
• Proven SRAM/memory design experience and successful nodes.
• Strong device physics and process tech knowledge (FinFET, GAA, SOI).
• Expert SRAM architecture know-how: bitcells, sense amps, write/read paths.
• Experience with timing, power, and manufacturability analysis (DFM).
• Proficient in circuit simulation and design automation scripting.

Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end SRAM design of high‑performance arrays and decoders.
• Optimize designs for speed, power, and area; improve yield.
• Develop layouts and perform DRC/LVS verifications.
• Evaluate tradeoffs to meet design targets across nodes (2nm, 3nm, 5nm).
• Develop and automate design methodologies and scripts.
• Collaborate with product/test to support silicon bring‑up.
• Mentor junior engineers and share SRAM best practices.
• Conduct circuit simulations (HSPICE, Spectre) to validate performance.
• Contribute to patents, papers, and conferences.

Skills

SRAM design

Low-power memory

Memory circuit concepts

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

B.S. Electrical Engineering

M.S. Electrical Engineering

Tools

Spectre

HSPICE

Cadence Virtuoso

Python

Perl

TCL

Job description

Please Note: To provide the best candidate experience amidst our high application volumes, each candidate is limited to 10 applications across all open jobs within a 6-month period.

Advancing the World’s Technology Together Our technology solutions power the tools you use every day--including smartphones, electric vehicles, hyperscale data centers, IoT devices, and so much more. Here, you’ll have an opportunity to be part of a global leader whose innovative designs are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and powering the future. We believe innovation and growth are driven by an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce. We’re dedicated to empowering people to be their true selves. Together, we’re building a better tomorrow for our employees, customers, partners, and communities.

What You’ll Do

We are looking for a passionate and experienced Staff Engineer, SRAM Circuit Design to lead the development of next-generation SRAM solutions. In this position, you will drive end-to-end design of high-performance, low-power memory circuits used in cutting-edge semiconductor products. Your work will directly influence the power, performance, and area (PPA) efficiency of future computing, mobile, and AI platforms. This role combines deep technical expertise with strategic team leadership, offering the opportunity to innovate at the forefront of semiconductor design.

• Design and develop SRAM memory arrays, including bit cells, sense amplifiers, decoders and control circuits for advanced process nodes (e.g., 2nm, 3nm and 5nm).
• Optimize SRAM designs for performance, power and area (PPA) and yield.
• Develop custom layouts and perform physical design verifications (e.g., DRC, LVS).
• Evaluate trade-offs between speed, power, and area to meet design targets.
• Develop and improve SRAM design methodologies, including automation scripts for design, simulation, and verification.
• Work with product and test engineers to develop test plans and support silicon bring‑up.
• Mentor Junior engineers, providing guidance on SRAM design techniques and best practices.
• Perform extensive circuit simulations using tools like HSPICE, finesim or cadence Spectre to validate SRAM functionality and performance.
• Contribute to patents, technical papers, or industry conferences to advance SRAM technology.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering with 10+ years of industry experience or master's degree in electrical engineering with 8+ years of experience strongly preferred.
• Prior experience in SRAM or memory circuit design, with a proven track record of delivering SRAM designs in advanced process nodes.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor devices physics and process technology (FinFET, GAA, SOI, etc.).
• Expertise in SRAM architecture, including bitcells, sense amplifiers, write drivers, and read/write control paths.
• Familiarity with timing analysis, power analysis, and design for manufacturability (DFM).
• Proficiency in circuit simulation, variation analysis, and design tools such as Spectre, HSPICE, Cadence Virtuoso, etc.
• Knowledge of scripting languages (e.g., Python, Perl, TCL) for automation of design tasks.
• Strong cross‑functional collaboration and communication skills for working with design, layout, verification, and technology development teams.
• Experience with advanced technology nodes (e.g., 5nm, 3nm, or beyond).
• Knowledge of SRAM compiler development and experience with low‑power SRAM design techniques (e.g., power gating, voltage scaling).
• Background in silicon debug and root‑cause analysis.
• You’re inclusive, adapting your style to the situation and diverse global norms of our people.
• An avid learner, you approach challenges with curiosity and resilience, seeking data to help build understanding.
• You’re collaborative, building relationships, humbly offering support and openly welcoming approaches.
• Innovative and creative, you proactively explore new ideas and adapt quickly to change.

What We Offer

The pay range below is for all roles at this level across all US locations and functions. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance. This is in addition to our diverse package of benefits centered around the wellbeing of our employees and their loved ones. In addition to the usual Medical/Dental/Vision/401k, our inclusive rewards plan empowers our people to care for their whole selves. An investment in your future is an investment in ours. Give Back With a charitable giving match and frequent opportunities to get involved, we take an active role in supporting the community.

Enjoy Time Away

You’ll start with 4+ weeks of paid time off a year, plus holidays and sick leave, to rest and recharge.

Care for Family

Whatever family means to you, we want to support you along the way—including a stipend for fertility care or adoption, medical travel support, and virtual vet care for your fur babies.

Prioritize Emotional Wellness

With on‑demand apps and free confidential therapy sessions, you’ll have support no matter where you are.

Stay Fit

Eating well and being active are important parts of a healthy life. Our onsite Café and gym, plus virtual classes, make it easier.

Embrace Flexibility

Benefits are best when you have the space to use them. That’s why we facilitate a flexible environment so you can find the right balance for you.

Base Pay Range

$163,000 - $253,000 USD

Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

Samsung Semiconductor takes pride in being an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to fostering an environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered to excel, regardless of race, religion, color, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, or veteran status. When selecting team members, we prioritize talent and qualities such